ANY Pakistani who wants a progressive and developed Pakistan would fully endorse your editorial (March 16) regarding Punjab chief minister's naked surrender to the Taliban.

One cannot comprehend such capitulation by the ruler of the biggest province.

This hits at the core of anti-extremist consensus, so painstakingly built by our civil society, a section of the media, government and the army.

Moreover, it also delivers a serious blow to the nascent foundations of the newfound provincial harmony. This has exposed the true political philosophy of Punjab's biggest party, which they have been trying to camouflage since their return to power.

This statement by junior Sharif, along with the PML-N's blatant hobnobbing with a banned outfit just to secure a few thousand votes, is a clear reflection of their mindset and regressive agenda. To borrow Kamran Shafi's terminology, they represent the 'Crazy Right' whose agenda will not allow Pakistan to move beyond the status quo; rather they would like us to revert to the same sycophantic policies of the 1980s which we are now desperately trying to change.

The PML-N has always been ambivalent in its stance on extremism. They never supported the military action against these elements wholeheartedly and only became part of the national consensus against these forces when no other choice was left to them. This statement proves this fact.

Never in their interviews have both Sharif brothers aggressively hit at these elements; they have just been paying lip-service.

Their government in Punjab is in denial about these elements' presence and strength in Punjab. They are reluctant to crack down on them; rather they are legitimising them by soliciting their support in elections.

This policy is extremely detrimental to Pakistan. The PML-N will be well advised to rethink this and come out decisively against these elements.

With their sole focus on presidential powers, opposition to the NWFP's renaming, reservations on the abolition of the concurrent list, and opposing many provincial autonomy proposals, the PML-N was already on the wrong side of the smaller provinces.

Now add to this mix the chief minister's begging of the Taliban to spare Punjab, and other provinces' suspicions about the PML-N get reinforced. This shows a Punjab-centric and a regressive approach hindering change in status quo. This is not worthy of a party which harbours aspirations to govern the whole of Pakistan.

The Punjab CM's statement is an insult to thousands of our jawans and officers who are laying down their lives in the mountains and valleys of Swat, Waziristan, and Bajur, just to keep us safe from Taliban murderers.

Sharif's words are disrespectful to the thousands of innocent victims who embraced martyrdom or were maimed by Taliban terror in our towns and villages.

Shahbaz Sharif must apologise to the families of the terror victims.

MUHAMMAD ASIF
Lahore

(II)

SHAHBAZ Sharif's recent statement imploring the Taliban to back off from Punjab undermines provincial harmony and stymies the establishment's stance of the current more muscular strategy of rooting out the Pakistani Taliban's strongholds in South Waziristan and Swat.

It is not expected of a person at the helm of affairs in Pakistan's most populous province to pass remarks that could alienate and infuriate the already sullen masses in the conflict-ridden NWFP.

The PML-N has a huge vote bank in Punjab and it should ensure that the party's stance is in sync with public opinion on issues of national importance.

Instead of getting carried away with unrest in the province and issuing statements on the spur, the CM should have taken a proactive stance by commending the sacrifice of those who lost their lives at the hands of ruthless extremism.

Terrorism today is a threat to each and every Pakistani alike and only a sustained, joint approach of addressing the issue head-on is going to be successful. We should be clear that the TTP, in connivance with foreign collaborators, is hell bent on wreaking havoc in our lives regardless of provincial boundaries, religious affiliations or political association and that its 'cause' has no religious exoneration whatsoever.

MUHAMMAD JALAL AWAN
Lahore

(III)

SHAHBAZ Sharif is begging for mercy from the barbarian and terrorist Taliban. In his parochial jest, he went overboard and proclaimed that they (PML-N) were on the same side as the Taliban against Pervez Musharraf during his tenure.

Isn't this like him selling his soul to the devil for some cheap political gain and to seek blessings from extremist outfits and sectarian organisations?

This is not bravado but a terrible case of arrogance coupled with a foot-in-the-mouth disease, which is quite common with the PML-N these days.

Has anyone ever thought and realised why the current and ongoing offensive by the Taliban has focused on Punjab, especially Lahore, though earlier it was preceded by the Taliban's wrath on Islamabad and Rawalpindi and at military installations and intelligence agency offices all over the country?

They are targeting the federation, and Lahore epitomises the citadel of power. Unfortunately, the chief minister is questioning their selection of targets and not why they are targeting Lahore.

It is time Shahbaz Sharif got off the high horse of provincialism, quit the martial mantle, entered the purgatory and sought penance from the people.

What Mr Sharif said in public is utterly disgraceful and is tantamount to siding with the Taliban and approving bomb blasts, suicide attacks and terror as long as it is not on Punjab's soil.

Mian Shahbaz, you have brought shame to Punjab and are no better than your foul-mouthed jingoistic law minister. As a Pakistani I am deeply ashamed of your brainless and arrogant rhetoric.

SYED KHAWAR MEHDI
Karachi

(IV)

KUDOS to the Punjab chief minister for requesting the Taliban to spare the province (and perhaps take their activities to some other province?).

Instead of condemning the heinous terror activities of the Taliban in Punjab and vowing to fight them, the PML-N leader yet again is singing a sympathetic and apologetic tune for the murderous organisation and is giving excuses for the atrocities being carried out by them. The Taliban sure have an apt spokesperson.

ASAD V. SHAIRANI
Karachi

(V)

THE chief minister's cowardly plea to the Taliban to spare Punjab has brought nothing but shame and ignominy to the province which was once known as the 'sword-wielding arm' of undivided India.

He has openly and shamelessly admitted that the PML-N and the Taliban have one and the same agenda.

Therefore, he has, in a most timid manner, begged the Taliban to 'spare Punjab' implying they could continue with their murderous and bloody activities of blowing the rest of Pakistan and, of course, Pakistanis to smithereens.

Will our high and superior judiciary take notice of this statement, which is nothing short of high treason?

A PAKISTANI
Via email